Topo to 3D

How to make a printable 3D model from topo maps - notes.

Get the topo map data

Get the topo map, in GeoTiff format. Possible sources are:

• http://opentopo.sdsc.edu
• https://viewer.nationalmap.gov/basic/

Convert to DEM

Convert the GeoTiff file to USGS ASCII DEM (Digitial Elevation Model) format. Possible tools are:

• On Linux: GDAL translate option

sudo apt install gdal-bin
gdal_translate -of AAIGrid /yoursourcepath/output_alos.tif /youroutputpath/out.asc

• Or from another program like QGIS. Load your raster file and then from the menu: Raster->Conversion->Translate. You will have to manually edit the command to change the format from GTiff to AAIGrid

Alternatives

• You could import the map image to Blender and edit it there. There is a nice tutorial for that.

• Another tutorial using QGIS and DemTo3DPrinting plugin.